The Coast Soccer League is back in action beginning this weekend when a host of teams will take the field and begin their quest to take their place among the best teams in California.

The early spotlight will be on the U16 Premier League, and particularly the U15 Gold defending champion making the leap to the next level.

We’re talking about the U15 Girls So Cal Blues Pearson, coached by Jeff Pearson. The Blues put together a 9-1-1 campaign last season and will face new challenges this year beginning with Saturday’s contest against West Coast United at UC Irvine.

The Blues are a talented bunch and should be right at home in Premier. Team standouts include: defender Mikhaila Bowden, an athletic back who stands out with her speed and versatility. Madison Krauser is a petite central midfielder who can run for days and connects well with striker Mackenzie Akins, a strong and athletic player with great ball skills and loads of potential.

Other valuable holdovers include goalkeeper Sammy Jo Prudhomme, defender Rebekah Foreman and Megan Crosson.  

The new challenge starts now for the Blues, but we have a feeling they’ll be ready for it.

The U17 Girls Arsenal FC are coming off an undefeated run last year and will open the year with Crescenta Valley SC on Saturday. Players to keep an eye on for the Arsenal are creative attacker Autumn Altamirano, central midfielder Lo’Eau Labonta and attackers Jennifer Gonzalez and Alexis Weaver.

At the top age level, the core of the U19 Girls Slammers will come from last season’s U17 title team. Kathleen Messinger, Zoe Dickson and Mia Bruno will lead a squad that begins with the California Stars on Sunday.

On the boys’ side, Aaron Long and Adam Zepeda join the U17 Arsenal FC after leading the U16s to domination a year ago.  Victor Chavez was supposed to join the Real So Cal U19s after a strong year with the U17s last year, but has been called into U.S. Soccer’s U17 Residency Program. Estanilao Arevalo will make the transition, however, as Real So Cal tries to get started on another title beginning Sunday against LAFC Chelsea Black.